Anonymous Internet Vigilantes Are Taking Peer Review Into Their Own Hands by Online Security
Since 2012, the message board PubPeer has served as a sort of 4chan for science, allowing anyone to post anonymous comments on scientific studies. Originally intended as a forum for the discussion of methods and results, PubPeer has perhaps become best known as a clearinghouse for accusations of scientific error, fraud, and misconduct—forcing journals to issue corrections and retractions, damaging careers, and eventually embroiling the site in a court case in which it’s advised by Edward Snowden’s legal team at the American Civil Liberties Union.
In the view of its critics, PubPeer enables an unchecked stream of accusations with no accountability. But to its supporters, PubPeer is maybe the only consistently effective way to expose fraud and error in the current scientific system. It exists at a time of quiet crisis for science and science journals, when the community is concerned about an inability to replicate past results—the so-called “reproducibility crisis”—and the number of papers retracted is on the rise. The traditional system of peer review seems unable to address these problems.
“We started it because we wanted more detailed arguments about science, and we were really shocked at how many fundamental problems there are with papers, involving very questionable research practices and rather obvious misconduct,” said Brandon Stell, a neuroscientist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris and the creator of PubPeer.
There’s certainly no denying its effect. According to Retraction Watch, a blog that monitors scientific corrections, errors, and fraud, at least three high-profile scientists in the past few months have had their studies retracted by journals after their data was questioned by anonymous commenters on PubPeer.
The most frightening words a researcher could read on PubPeer are 'There are concerns'
One of the scientists, Fazlul Sarkar, is currently suing several of the commenters. His lawyers argue the site must reveal the identities of the users that have done damage to Sarkar’s career, after he lost a tenured position at the University of Mississippi. PubPeer has refused to release the information. Both Google and Twitter have filed a court brief in support of the site, which is currently being defended pro-bono by lawyers from the ACLU.
It’s perhaps the most interesting case about internet privacy you've never heard of, and it all stems from a frustration among scientists with the shadowy politics of publishing and peer review.
At its base, PubPeer is a site that allows anyone to post comments on any scientific paper listed on the federally-funded PubMed database, either anonymously or under their own name. It’s functionally very simple, but the built-in anonymity makes it a safe outlet for scientists—especially young, early-career scientists—to discuss and criticize research without fear of repercussion. And that’s something they’re apparently eager to do: The site has logged over 55,000 mostly anonymous comments since its launch.
Back in October 2013, someone on the PubPeer site started threads for about 20 previously published papers on which Fazlul Sarkar, a cancer researcher then at Wayne State University in Michigan, was an author. The papers span over a decade and involve a variety of complex molecular signalling pathways involved in cancer. The issues raised by the comments, though, were relatively straightforward: They claimed that images in these studies appeared to have been changed, duplicated, and re-used across papers, suggesting that the experiments they appeared in may have never actually happened, or could have produced different results.
Stell noted that, in an effort to keep the discussion civil (and legal), PubPeer specifically requests that users do not accuse authors outright of misrepresentation or fraud. Comments are moderated in case they break these guidelines, so any discussion of such allegations tends to have a muted tone.
That doesn’t make this group of self-appointed watchdogs any less effective, though. The most frightening words a researcher could read on PubPeer are “There are concerns.”
Discussion over “concerns” surrounding Sarkar’s work expanded rapidly as it became clear the commenters had found a rich vein to mine: According to the NIH funding database and PubMed, Sarkar has received more than $12 million in NIH funding and authored over 500 research papers over his career. The community is nothing if not meticulous—PubPeer commenters have been known to pull up decades-old PhD theses looking for dirt—and a search of the message board shows that eventually 77 papers with Sarkar on the author list were presented for scrutiny. By checking the papers against each other patterns began to emerge; for example, one user claims a single set of images were duplicated up to 54 times in 13 papers, across three years.
Online Security: These Are Today's Top 8 Cyber-Crime Trends According to Europol
In its Internet Organized Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) report released today, Europol has detailed today's top 8 most prevalent cybercrime trends, for which investigators have seen a rise in detected incidents since the start of the year.
The report, which highlights an upward trend for volume, scope and material cost of cybercrime, comes on the heels of UK authorities announcing earlier in the year that cybercrime has surpassed traditional crime for the first time in their country's history.
Europol says that the digital underground is shifting towards a Crime-as-a-Service business model, with various individuals and groups specializing in a niche crime and providing technical support and service for that crime alone using online services.
From illegal weapons sales to on-demand hacks, and from DDoS-for-Hire services to exploit kit packages, you can buy online almost any type of cybercrime service these days.
If you read Softpedia's Security News section, you can hardly go one day without reading a report on ransomware-related topics. Besides ransomware, Europol also says that banking trojans have been a popular form of malware this year as well.
Recent hacks and data breaches have thrust troves of data in the public eye, which crooks are leveraging for other hacks, fraud, and even extortion.
Europol says it received a large number of fraud complaints, which were traced back to organized crime groups hacking ATMs, EMV, and contactless (NFC) cards.
#5: Online child sexual abuse
The large number of online tools and services providing complex and unbreakable end-to-end encryption, along with anonymous payments supported via crypto-currencies has resulted in "an escalation in the live streaming of child abuse."
More and more crime-related activities have now moved to the Darknet (or Dark Web), a portion of the Internet for which you need special software like Tor and I2P to access. Criminals are taking advantage of the anonymity these networks provide to go about their business unabated.
#7: Social engineering
Europol says that spear-phishing incidents aimed at high-value targets have gone up in 2016, and it highlights the increase in CEO fraud (BEC scams) attacks.
#8: Virtual currencies
Europol says Bitcoin has become the de-facto standard currency for extortion payments. This is also the reason why Europol established a Bitcoin Money Laundering Division earlier this month.
Oakmere Road: “Someone Has Reported Your Actions” Facebook Phishing Scam
Message purporting to be from Facebook Security Management claims that your account will be disabled because other users have reported your actions. It instructs you to click a link to re-confirm your details or Facebook will remove your account.
The message is not an official Facebook security warning. Instead, it is a phishing scam designed to steal your Facebook login details as well as your credit card numbers, your email account password, and other identifying information. It is just one in a long line of very similar scam messages. If you receive one of these messages, do not click on any links that it contains.
WARNING: Your account will be disabled!
Our system has received the reports from the other users about the misuse of your account. Someone has reported your actions, which violations of our terms.
Facebook does not allow:
- Pretending to be someone else
- Interfere with another comfort for the user
- Having more than one Facebook
- Share link or video content with pornographic videos
If you are really user of this account, you’ll need to re-confirm your account. It’s easy, Click the link below to confirm your account:
If you do not immediately confirm a grace period of 12 hours after you receive this message, so sorry we will remove of your account.
Thanks,
Miller
Security Management
According to this warning message, which claims to be from “Miller” at “Security Management Facebook”, your Facebook account is set to be disabled. Supposedly, you have been misusing your account and someone has therefore reported your actions.
The message then claims that you must click a link to re-confirm your account within 12 hours or Facebook will remove the offending account. The warning is distributed via Facebook’s internal messaging system.
However, the message is certainly not from any official security manager at Facebook. And the claim that your account will be disabled if you do not confirm your information is a lie.
If you are taken in by the ruse and click the link in the hope of saving your account, you will be taken to a fraudulent webpage that has been built to emulate the real Facebook website. The fake webpage asks you to “login” with your Facebook email address and password. Next, a second form will appear that asks you to provide your webmail address and password as well as your date of birth, country, phone number, and account security question:
Finally, you will be redirected to the Facebook Newsroom website. At this point, you may believe that you have successfully confirmed your information and thereby avoided the threatened account removal.
In reality, however, online criminals now have a good deal of your personal and financial information. They can use your information to hijack both your Facebook account and email account. Once they have gained entry to these accounts, they can use them to send out further scam and spam messages. They may send new versions of the above scam to your friends from your Facebook account via private messages.
The criminals can also use your credit card to conduct fraudulent transactions. They may also manage to use all of the personal information they have collected to steal your identity.
This criminal tactic is not new. In fact, this scam message is just one in a long line of very similar scams that have targeted Facebook users for several years. Be wary of any message that purports to be from Facebook and claims that your account will be disabled or suspended if you do not click a link to verify your account details. If Facebook needs you to address an account issue, you will most likely receive a notification from within Facebook itself when you login.
If one of these scam messages comes your way, do not click any links that it contains. Always login to Facebook by entering the address into your browser’s address bar or via a trusted app.
International Financial Securities Regulatory Commission: Joint Press Release
Joint Press Release OF BELIZE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION AND BELIZE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION
As many of you may be aware, the Government of Belize is currently undertaking a fiscal debt restructuring exercise. With the global economic recession and the continuing economic lethargy, many countries have experienced a substantially increased fiscal debt burden. Over the past several years, while Belize has fared better than many including within the Caribbean and Central American region in weathering the recession, growth has largely remained stunted resulting in lower than expected tax revenues. The result is that the Government believes that the fiscal debt is not on a sustainable trajectory and that it is in the country’s long-term best interest that the restructuring is done to make it sustainable. This is the second debt restructuring exercise by the Government. The first was successfully completed in early 2007.
While the Government has undertaken these restructuring efforts, Belize’s international financial services industry has continued to grow steadily. Save and except for a temporary reduction in the throes of the global recession in 2008 and 2009, Belize IBC annual incorporations and renewals are at all time highs. This is supported by the continued entry and licensure of multi-jurisdictional international financial services practitioners. Belize’s international trust continues to experience increasing popularity while its relatively small but ever-growing international banking sector holds its highest deposits in the sector’s history.
Throughout this process of growth, there have been no legislative interventions whatsoever arising as a result of any Government debt restructuring exercise. Instead in 2009, Mutual Funds (Fees) Regulations were introduced to allow for the effective implementation of the registration process of private, professional and public mutual funds in Belize. In 2010, the legislature enacted the International Foundations Act and in early 2012, the International Limited Liability Companies Act came into force. All these laws were clearly introduced to enhance the offering of products in Belize’s international financial services sector. The Government of Belize has demonstrated itself to be a very strong supporter of Belize’s international financial services sector and the sector and its members and stakeholders have no cause to believe otherwise.
As regulator and regulated, we look forward to the continued growth and development of Belize’s international financial services sector with the full support of the Government of Belize.
The International Financial Securities Regulatory Commission was established to promote investor confidence in the securities and capital markets by providing more structure and government oversight.
International Financial Securities Regulatory Commission: Tips on Effective Practices for Digital Investment Advice
According to a recent report from Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), firms providing financial services through “digital investment advice” require sound supervision and governance, plus effective ways of determining appropriateness of advices, conflicts of interest, client risk tolerance and portfolio rebalancing. Likewise, the report provides helpful tips for investors and emphasizes the importance of training and education for financial experts who utilize digital investment advice applications.
FINRA released the report to provide the public effective practices pertaining to digital investment advice services and to inform member companies of their duties under FINRA regulations. The report highlights the fact that global expenditures on online wealth-management services will continue to grow substantially.
"We believe that the report offers guidance and information for FINRA member companies and investors regarding vital aspects of the fast-growing field of digital investment advice," noted Richard Ketchum, FINRA’S Chairman and CEO. "As these services evolve, member firms must ascertain that the main objectives of investor protection – for instance, comprehending and answering customers' requirements and goals – also support the foundation of these new tools."
FINRA’s report summarizes effective practices and regulatory guidelines in five key areas:
- Administration and oversight of algorithms, which also involves evaluating first the digital tools’ methodology used and the dependability and quality of raw data processed, plus monitoring continuously to check if the tools deliver what they promise to do, and evaluating whether the tool utilizes up-to-date models consistent with current market realities;
- Customer profiling, which includes evaluating both their risk tolerance and risk acceptability, and resolving inconsistent or conflicting feedback in customer-submitted information;
- Administration and oversight of portfolios and conflicts of interest, plus evaluating the risk, portfolio benefits and diversification qualities appropriate for a particular investor profile, and reducing – through transparency and prevention – issues that may result from the securities options for a specific portfolio;
- Rebalancing, and in addition, proffering ways of how the rebalancing helps as well as methods that exhibit how the tools will serve to address drastic market conditions;
- Training that enables financial professionals to understand the key assumptions and limitations of individual digital investment advice tools, and determine when use of a tool may not be appropriate for a client.
In addition, the report recommends to investors that they assess whether their financial services firm is getting sufficient information to comprehend their needs and risk capability. Conflicts of interest can arise from digital investment advice, FINRA reminds investors; and that whatever advice given to them will depend largely on the investment strategy and appurtenant input data utilized in the digital application. Moreover, FINRA suggests that investors are well aware of the necessary fees they are charged and services provided, in particular, portfolio rebalancing and others.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is recognized as the biggest independent securities regulation agency for all firms operating in the United States. FINRA commits to safeguard the interests of the investor as well as the integrity of the securities market through efficient regulation and appurtenant compliance and technology-based systems. FINRA covers substantially every aspect of the securities market – beginning with registration and education of all industry players to evaluation of securities companies, writing regulations, enforcement of such regulations and the federal securities laws, and the education of the investing public in general. Moreover, FINRA conducts investigations and other regulatory tasks for equities and options markets, including trade updates and other related industry services. Finally, FINRA serves as the main administrator for resolutions of disputes for investors and securities firms.
International Financial Securities Regulatory Commission: Education & Training
FINRA offers securities professionals some of the industry’s most valuable education and training, particularly in compliance and regulatory matters. Conferences and educational events keep you informed about regulatory and rules developments, FINRA priorities and practical guidance on compliance issues.
Sharpen your knowledge of the latest compliance news, rules and regulations at FINRA’s conferences and educational events.
Stay current on compliance and regulatory topics right at your desk with FINRA’s convenient online learning courses.
High-potential executives receive rigorous instruction in securities laws and regulation.
Once registered, you are required to fulfill your CE requirements within 120 days after the 2nd anniversary of your initial registration.
The International Financial Securities Regulatory Commission was established to promote investor confidence in the securities and capital markets by providing more structure and government oversight.
Meir Ezra - Who Do You Blame?
No one wins the blame game.
For example, you make a mistake or something goes wrong. So you blame someone or something.
"I crashed the car because you played the radio too loud!"
"It's not my fault the soup is too salty! It's your recipe."
"If we had a newer computer, I would do better in school."
Blame is frequently used to explain poor job performance.
"My boss is such a jerk, I can't get my work done."
"I closed my painting shop and went bankrupt because of the economy."
"Youdon't pay me enough to be nice to EVERY customer."
Blame is also used for personal problems.
"I'm depressed because of the tragedies in the news."
"I can't be faithful to my wife because I have a chemical imbalance."
"I can't stop smoking because my father used to spank me."
Why You Can't Win the Blame Game
When you blame someone or something else, you actually make yourself weak and ineffective. You make yourself "at effect" instead of being "at cause" of the situation. You give power to the person or thing you blame.
"Blaming something else makes that something else cause; and as that cause takes on power, the individual in the same act loses control and becomes effect." -- L. Ron Hubbard
For example, your business is failing and you blame your assistant. You say,"My assistant messed up my business," which is just another way of saying, "My assistant controls me and the success of my business."
If you take responsibility for your business, you would say, "I need to train my assistant better."
As another example, you might blame your parents for your stress and anxiety. You might say, "My parents ruined my life," which is the same as saying, "My parents are so powerful, they control my mood and my emotions."
Stopping the blame game and accepting responsibility for yourself gives you new hope. "My parents didn't ruin my life. I ruined my life by being lazy and unemployed. I need to improve my opinion about myself and get busy."
